Early morning the next day, after having done with his daily routine Xi Chen start making his way towards th south part of the town.(Xi Chen's home is at the south east part of the town)
After several twist and turns, he finally arrived at the front of a huge workshop called the 'Shi family workshop'. Memories of him working at the workshop and him learning with his peers appears in his mind.Thinking of those hard days of him learning smithing and leaving the little 5 or 6 years old siblings left him unsettling at work.And how his teacher helped him through those tough times
by providing money and foods.
Thinking of all those memories made him smile.' How time flies and how I far I have come along from those time' he thought and took a refreshing breath and push open the door to enter inside.
As soon as he push opened the door, sounds of metals hitting metals rangs throughout the entire hall.
Kang...Kang.. Kang...
After pushing the door, he try to enter. But before he could enter, a slightly thin boy went up to him and said" What kind of weapon or tool you are looking for sir?".
Xi Chen replies " I was a student here and I am visiting my master today" as he shows the bag lifting with his hand.
"Who is your master" the boy ask again,then he hurriedly added "Don't take me wrong. I am just asking in case your master is not here anymore.As you know many master have come and left her" in case Xi Chen got the wrong idea.
"My master is the owner of this place. His name is Shi Fang" Xi Chen replied with a smile.
"The owner!!" the boy exclaims "Come in,come in" Then he hurriedly gestures Xi Chen to enter.
"The owner is in the backyard" the boy pointed towards to inner door which leads to the backyard.
Xi Chen opens the inner door and went towards the backyard just a little away from the workshop.And as he approaches near the backyard, he hears a man's voice which is about 50 to 60 years of age.
The man is heard scolding at someone with an angry and loud tone"How can you fall for tricks.Did I not tell you that he is a fraud. He is not even stronger than me. How can he be a Martial artist.How can he teaches you martial techniques when he does not even know himself. If he had that kind of techniques he would be a big shot with a big name, not some crabs who searches for people to teach. You dumbest brat. When will you understand that".
The young man quickly defend himself in a low voice"I thought he might be true. That's why I gave him the money. I did not ask him to screw me".
The two men are Shi Fang and his idiotic son Shi Fan, who is obsessed with becoming a Martial artist.
At this time the door to courtyard opens slowly,both the men turns towards the door to sees who is it.Soon the older man's angry expression quickly replaced with a smiling face.Then he is heard saying " Ah little Xi. Its you".
"Yes master. It's me. It's been quite a long time. So I am here visiting you" Xi Chen replied with a smile.
Shi Fang then turns to his son and said "Leave here and go reflect yourself for your mistake. I have some catch up to do with my beloved apprentice".
Shi Fan quickly runs towards the exit with his tail between his legs like a dog pardoned for his mistakes.On his way, he greeted "Hello brother Chen".
Xi Chen node back "Hello bother Fan".
After Shi Fan left,the master and apprentice duo sat down at courtyard table and started conversing.
"Master I brought some fresh fruits from the market" Xi Chen handed the bag he brought with him.
"Just leave it at the table for now. You are the only visiting me after leaving the workshop." Shi Fang receives the bag and place it on the edge of the table.
"You must have encountered some troubles with blacksmithing, for you to be here. Am I right?" Shi Fang ask with smile.
"Master know me well. Thats right.I am here because of some things I do not understand of making some weapon" Xi Chen replied with his hand scratching his backhead.
"Shoot it. What kind of weapons can trouble you.Even though your not that good. It should not be too complex for you to forge any weapon except for some hidden mechanisms" says Shi Fang while caressing his beard.Even though his beard is to short to be caressing.
"Master I want to know how to forge a Magical weapon" Xi Chen said in a low voice.
(From now on Martial artist weapon will be replaced with Magical weapon)
"Huh.." Shi Fang let out surprise sound and ask "Why do need to know that. I mean you are not even a Martial artist".
"Forging normal tools is not profitable anymore. And I want to fix my roof before next winter" Xi Chen gave an excuse.
"Well why don't you use tempered iron. It's profitable" Shi Fang ask with a puzzle face.
"No common people with make an order for tempered iron tools. Only those riches can make an order for that. And even If I have tempered iron those rich people will not come to my remote area. Only with magical weapon can I attract some money" Xi Chen add another excuse. But all he said is also the facts.
"Well thats true" Shi Fang agreed, then continues "First of all to forge a magical weapon, you should be born with divine strength or atleast be a Martial artist. And to forge it, you need 100th tempered steel. But you can not get 100th tempered because those famous or big farms would not give it to you unless you bought the already forge weapon or order one.And lastly, you need high temperature furnace or spiritual fire".
This left Xi Chen a dejected look. But he still ask "Is there any way I can get my hands on the materials".
'Sighs..' Shi Fang looks at his apprentice and said slowly "Well since you want try it, you can only find them yourself in nature. You should look for metal ores tainted with spiritual energy or metallic spiritual plants".
"Thank you Master" Xi Chen thanked his master and left dejected but inwardly he is happy he got the information.
As Xi Chen left,Shi Fang sighs 'The lives common people'.
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After reaching home,Xi Chen spent his day like his every other day.
Just like that the day went.